17/06/2011 15:15
Greece on brink of default: PM appoints new finance minister
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has changed his finance minister in a bid to push through unpopular austerity measures demanded by the EU, BBC reported.
Evangelos Venizelos has been promoted to the finance ministry and tasked with tackling a crippling debt crisis.
The former defense minister replaces George Papaconstantinou, who has been moved to the environment ministry.
Mr Venizelos' promotion came as part of a cabinet reshuffle that will be put to a vote of confidence in parliament that is expected to take place on Tuesday.
Stavros Lambrinidis, formerly head of the ruling Socialist Party's group of deputies at the European Parliament, has been promoted to foreign minister.
Deputy Defense Minister Panos Beglitis and deputy Labour Minister George Koutroumanis have been given ministerial posts.
Health Minister Andreas Loverdos has been given extra responsibilities.
Former Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas and former Environment Minister Tina Birbili have been dropped from the cabinet.